Since there's no consensus on whether or not expensive aftermarket cables help audio quality--there seems to be a lot of common experience with tonal changes , however--let's start back at the bottom of the product options, back with what you wouldn't want in your connection schemes, and ask why. Such as, why would you not trust those stock RCA patch cords that where always supplied with front-end pieces like decks, EQs, CD players, etc? Why not use that lamp cord for your amp's AC line, or that zip cord speaker wires on those big spools at the hardware store? All of these products will do the basic job of supplying current. Would these cords and wires lack weight and bass foundation? Would they introduce EMI into your playback? Would you have that black-velvet noise floor that so involves you in the music? (I am not assuming any answers here, just asking.)
Really, instead of taking potshots at the fraud and hype, and at one another, let's turn the usual, tired, unwinnable debate around and discuss what we would not accept in our systems, stating beliefs and experiences as to why some things just aren't acceptable. I will just say that in my experience with adding connection products and line devices, the one idea that has always made sense is that the more noise I seem to have removed from the chain, the better is the backdrop and foundation in the music, allowing more of the music to come through. Another observation--we are building systems that are far above consumer-grade offerings, so it seems to make sense that no part of an audiophile's system should be ordinary. So, what would you consider inadequate, and why?
